For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJV
I’ve heard this verse a lot over the years, from it being preach over the pulpit, to it being a memory verse for my kids in school, to people just generically quoting it as an inspirational word from the Lord just for them. But let me take a moment to tell you what it means to me at this time in my life.
If I may continue on my transparent journey – Often, as of lately, I struggle with loneliness. I long for conversation about basically anything, but to include my thoughts and feelings on anything and everything. As a parent I am concern for the needs of my children, and rightfully so, they are my responsibility. But there comes a time in my day-to-day when I simply want to say - in my Color Purple voice to Harpo - “What about me?” You Color Purple fans will get that. Lol!
If I'm may continue in my honesty, I don't think I have ever experienced true relationship love – the kind between a man and a woman. I have yet to witness the sacrificial love described in Scripture. The hard love found in the pit of your stomach and the ache in your chest kind of love.
I've had the “cry your eyes out, why is he leaving me,” the “why doesn't he show me he loves me,” the “who is she love,” and the “I want a divorce love,” but never the unconditional love, “anything for you, for us” kinda love. Yes, I know God loves me, unconditionally and sacrificially. But, without going into details, you know what I'm talking about. That being said, let me stay on topic.
Everyone God created, He created with purpose. God knew His plan and purpose for us before the foundation of this world. With that in mind, I strive daily to stay within His will and plan for my life, and no, I'm not always successful in the run of a day. This verse says his thoughts of me are of peace and not of evil:
He wants me to be at peace in my mind and in my body and in my spirit. How do I get that peace? Philippians 4:6-7 tells me if I'm anxious for nothing, but pray about everything, letting the Lord know my heart with thankfulness for what He has done and is doing, ask Him for what I need, THEN I can have that peace that passes all understanding. AND that peace will keep my heart and mind through Christ Jesus.
Next, He wants to give me a future and a hope.
The future He desires(ed) for me can be, and has been at times delayed, off track, or on hold, simply because I chose to not obey. I either wavered in my faith about what He said he would supply and attempted to HELP God supply my needs or my wants, which I described as needs, in the hopes that he would supply them if I labeled them correctly.
The Bible says in Hebrews 11, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
In order for God to give me the desires of my heart – a sincere, godly relationship - I must be found in His will for my life. I must seek him with my whole heart and the desires of my heart will match what He has for me. I must stop wavering in my faith because I don't see it happening when I think it should.
The last portion says, Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
If a godly relationship it what I want, THEN I must ask Him for it, trust Him for it and then Obey Him for it.
If you've ever read my writings, you know me to be good for saying trust God and Obey God. Today, I need you to tell me this. If you have my number text it to me, email it to me, Facebook it to me. Hold me accountable to God's will for my life. If He desires me to have another relationship, pray that I will truly WAIT on Him, trust Him and Obey Him.
Although my true friends list is short, I know I have a few people out there who truly love me and care for me and want the best for me - God's best - that is. Hold me accountable to GOD, my faith walk, my obedience journey.
If you've read this far, I thank you in advance for your support and for your prayers.
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